WASHINGTON  American bishops are unlikely to be receptive to a recent request from priests in Milwaukee to discuss opening the priesthood to married men.
Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops told The New York Times the issue is nothing new and the Church is firm on its position.
"Since the Second Vatican Council the question of celibacy has been raised by popes and a number of synods and bishops' conferences, and I think we have a fairly clear position on the importance of celibacy and its relationship to the Catholic priesthood."
Nearly one-third of the priests in Milwaukee sent a petition Aug. 19 to Gregory, saying the shortage of clergymen ought to prompt a discussion about allowing married men to become priests.
Gregory said he has not conferred with Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of Milwaukee, but indicated he did not think the letter would prompt much discussion.
"I don't see this fostering another review of a topic that has been fairly well discussed," he said.
The Rev. Joseph Aufdermauer of Milwaukee, who helped write the petition, told the newspaper he was not surprised by Gregory's response.
"We were just asking for a dialogue," he said. "That was a fond wish, but I think I'm a bit of a realist."
